People who know and love Jesus Christ exude a great joy. Every day, Catholics who make a witness of their faith to the people around them heal others through their work. The Acts of the Apostles demonstrate the power that comes from awakened believers who give witness through their words and deeds.

Both the first reading and the Gospel from Oct. 16 speak about the importance of persistent prayer. Moses is an Old Testament figure for intercessory prayer. In the first reading, he prays for Joshua and the army of Israelites who are in battle against the Amelkites. Moses’ two helpers, Aaron and Hur, are with him on top of a mountain during this time of prayer and ultimately, they hold his hands up so that the Israelites win the battle.

One of the greatest fears of my childhood was getting caught doing something bad and having to face my dad. It’s not that he was mean or abusive, it’s just that I did not want to disappoint him, and this caused a knee-jerk reaction of fear whenever such situations would arise.

I once had a priest tell me, “If you want good friends, you first have to be a good friend.” Since I heard this, I have tried to be a good friend when my friends call on me. That has included staying up late with friends who are going through a difficult time, dropping everything I’m doing to pick up someone who went walking and then got caught in the rain, and being vulnerable and asking for forgiveness when I have done something to offend a friend.

It is often remarked in both the secular and Catholic media today that society’s religious beliefs are declining. The Church has been asking the question these last years about what can be done to try to stem the tide of this alarming trend. Her answer so far has been to call for a “new evangelization.”

Over the course of the past 11 months, I’ve come to believe that God the Father is calling us as a Church to let go of everything other than Jesus. The circumstances in which we find ourselves have left us humbled and exposed, and at times the object of public scorn and reproach. The bonds of communion that have long been the strength of this local Church have been tested and challenged as we come to grips with our past and strive to make plans for the future.